Concrete sign



Aug. 11, 1936. E. A. BELL CONCRETE SIGN Filed April 6, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR: Edwin 291551]; BY [W WTORNEYS.

Q WA M QQM E. A. BELL CONCRETE SIGN Aug. 11, 1936.

Filed April 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR:

WITNESSES: I Z/uzJ/Z fldwzn :7 Bulb, (%TORNEYS. I i

Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This inventionrelates to concrete or cement 'signs of a. luminous or reflective type,suitable concrete or of a wet Portland cement and sand mixture. Theinventi'onis well adapted for advertising and for traffic directing andcontrolling signs, for motor vehicle highways, and I have hereillustrated and described it with particular reference to a trafiicsign. In suitable forms of embodiment, the invention affords a simple,rugged, durable, and goodlooking sign, that can be very quickly made andinstalled, at comparatively low cost. Other features andadvantages ofthe invention will appearfrom the following description of species, orembodiments thereof, and from the drawings.

While the structures and methods of manufacture shown and described aresuch as I at present consider the best for my purposes, and while myinvention extends to all their special features and details, so far asnovel, yet the invention is not confined thereto, but can be otherwisecarried out and embodied.

In the drawings, Fig. I is a tilted or perspective view of one type andform of concrete sign embodying my invention.

Fig. II shows a cross section through the sign, taken as indicated bythe line and arrows IIII in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a side view of one of the luminous units or devices of thesign shown in Figs. I and II.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary tilted or perspective view of one of theletters in the sign shown in Fig. '1, illustrating a different form ofluminous unit or device.

Fig. V is a tilted or perspective end and side view illustrating theassembled elements of the luminous device shown in Fig. IV.

Fig. V1 is a perspective view of a mold for casting a sign such as shownin Figs. I and II.

Fig. VII is a perspective view of a pattern or templet which may formpart of the mold of Fig. VI.

Fig. VIII is a similar view of an alternative form of pattern or templetfor the same purpose,

adapted for use with a luminous device or unit such as shown in Figs. IVand V.

Fig. IX is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the casting of asign in a mold of the general type shown in Fig. VI.

Figs. I and II illustrate the embodiment of my invention in aThrough-stop-traflic sign. In

this particular instance, the only part of the sign design to which theluminous or light-reflecting feature is applied is the word Stop,--whichmay also preferably be set out in symbols (letters) distinctivelycolored, or emphasized by surfaces 5 in a different plane from that ofthe sign face in generalfo'r both... In Fig. I, a number ofcloselyspaced luminous or light-reflecting devices or units In of glassycharacter are employed, embedded in" the concrete of which the sign ismade 10 so as to be securely retained therein, yet visibly exposed atthe surfaceof the concrete. In the present instance, the letter-symbolsof the word Stop? are of intaglio formation, being deeply countersunk orgrooved into the sign face, and 15 the sides of the grooves are beveled,which increases the visibility. In addition, the inner sur-' faces(sides and bottoms) of the letter-grooves are conspicuously colored,preferably red, as with suitable paint. The glassy luminous units II)are 20 exposed in the bottom surfaces of the trapezoidalgrooves, ll ofthe letters of the word Stop. It will be understood, of course, however,that any parts, features, or symbols of any sign design may be renderedconspicuous and luminous in the 25 same way as this word Stop.

As here shown, the sign comprises an octagonal slab I2 of concrete whosefront face is convexly rounded or cambered slightly about a verticalaxis,--i. e., an axis perpendicular to the horizon- 3O tal defined bythe words of the sign legend I Through-stop-traffic. This sign slab I2is pierced with two holes I3, I3 on its vertical center line, for screwsor bolts for securing the slab to its supporting post or otherstructure. The 35 convexity of the front or sign face of the slab I2provides maximum strength at the supporting central area where the holesI3, l3 are located, minimizes the weight of the slab, and somewhatincreases the angle of visibility of the sign. As 40 shown in Fig. II,the concrete sign slab I2 is reinforced and strengthened with metal rodsor wires M embedded in the concrete, and preferably extending bothhorizontally and vertically-speaking with reference to Fig. I.

As shown in Fig. I, the outline of the sign face is emphasized withgrooved border lines, and a central horizontal panel for the word Stopis set off by horizontal grooved lines. These grooved 50 lines and theletters forming the words Through and Traific are all shown as ofdeep-sunk roundbottom grooved formation. These features of the sign-facedesign may, if desired, be emphasized by appropriate coloring of theinner surfaces of 55 the round-bottom grooves forming them, as with anysuitable paint, preferably black.

As shown in Figs. I and III, the closely spaced luminous orlight-reflecting units or devices I0 consist principally of button orknob-like glassy members I5, of such shape that they can be retentivelyembedded in the concrete and yet partially exposed so as to beconspicuously visible at the bottoms of the grooves II. For thispurpose, the glassy member of each unit I0 is shown in Fig. III asrounded or reduced in front, and its facial area I6 that is to beexposed is defined by a shoulder, which may consist of a metal ring I'Iattached to the member I5 by any suitable cement or varnish. This ringI1 is of assistance in properly positioning the unit ID in the concrete,as hereinafter explained. The member I5 may also be provided with areflector I8, shown in the form of a circular metal cup or cap with aconvex and internally polished or silvered bottom. with a narrow lip orbeveled edge I9 that can be attached to the surface of the member I5 bysuitable cement or varnish. As shown in Fig. III, the member I5 is ofspherically rounded form. When the interiors of the symbol-grooves IIare colored red, as already mentioned, a very good effect is obtained bymaking the members I5 used in them of a light, clear amber-yellow glass.

Figs. IV and V illustrate a variation in the luminous orlight-reflecting devices: i. e., instead of a number of separate unitsI0 spaced apart, each part of the design-feature (in Fig. IV the letterS) to be luminously set out has a continuous rod-like device 20extending along its center line(s), retentively embedded in the concretebut partially exposed-at the bottom of the groove(s) II, if suchdepression of design fea tures is employed. As shown in Fig. V, eachdevice 20 comprises a glassy rod member 2| of any frontally reducedcross-section that would be suitable for the glassy member of the deviceI9, and a trough-like reflector 22 having a cylindrically roundedbottom, internally polished or silvered. The reflector-trough 22 may beattached to one-side of the rod member 2I just as the reflector-cap I 8is attached to the member I 5 in Fig. III. The rod 2| may consist oflight, clear ambercolored glass. Separate rods 2I and reflector troughs22 may be bent and/or attached to one another as required to make thedesired design features or symbols; or such separate rod and reflectorpieces may merely be assembled together before the pouring of theconcrete as hereinafter described, since they will thereafter bepermanently held in the proper relations to one another.

With either the construction of Figs.-I1II or that of Figs. IV and V,the countersinking of the design features or symbols affords shelter andprotection for the luminous units III or 20,-which as shown in Figs. Iand IV project from the bottoms of the grooves I I less than the depthof the grooves. This obviates damage to such devices I0 or 20 inhandling, or by minor impacts after installation, and may also help toprevent obscuring of the devices III or 20 by snow, etc.

Figs. VI, VII, VIII and IX illustrate the making of a sign such ashereinbefore described. In Fig. VI, there is shown a mold comprising abottom or base plate 24 for forming the front or sign-. face of thesign-slab I2, and preferably concavely rounded or cambered as alreadydescribed, and a removable rim-band or frame 25 for forming the edges ofthe slab. The bottom plate 24 is shown as provided with rounded ridges26 for forming the outline and panel grooves and the words Through andTraflic, and with projecting pins 21, 21 (which may be removablyinserted in holes drilled in the plate 24) for forming the holes I3, I3through the slab I2. In addition, the plate 24 is shown as provided withbeveled, trapezoidal ridges 28 forming the raised letter-symbols of theword Stop. These raised symbols 28 are provided with socket recesses ordepressions 29, shown as circular, for receiving the sight-faces I6 ofthe luminous devices or units I0 illustrated in Fig. III. As shown inFig. VII, these sockets 29 may consist of depressions or holes. The sizeand depth of the socket 29 is such as to take the unit I0 just to theshoulder formed by the ring II, which thus keeps the unit It in properupright position until after the concrete has been poured and has set.

In the use of the mold just described, the luminous or reflective unitsIII are placed in all the sockets 29 of the symbols or features 28 ofthe sign-design, and the concrete is poured into the mold to the topedge of the rim 25. At a suitable stage or stages in the pouring of theconcrete,-

1 or even after it has been poured and is still soft,-the metalreinforcements I4 may be placed in the mold, extending in any desireddirection or directions. After the pouring, any superfluity of concretemay be struck off flush with the top edge of the rim 25, and the topsurface of the concrete suitably smoothed. When the concrete has set andhardened sufficiently, the cast slab I2 and the mold may be separated,leaving the units I0 permanently and retentively embedded in theconcrete, and partially exposed at the bottoms of the symbol (letter)grooves II formed by the raised mold symbols 28. The beveled edges ofthe raised symbols 28 allow them to part from the cast withoutdifliculty.

When the rod-and-trough type of luminous units or device 20 shown inFigs. IV and V is employed, instead of the button type II) shown in Fig.III, the sockets 29 of the raised mold symbols may have the form ofgrooves or slots such as shown in Fig. VIII, adapted to receive thefront faces of the rods 2I to the proper depth.

In cases where the parts or symbols of the sign design that are to beprovided with the luminous devices ID or 20 vary for the individualsigns to be made, the raised mold-symbols 28 shown in Fig. VI may not beintegral with the mold bottom 24, but may consist of separate removablepaterns or templets 28a such as shown in Figs. VII and VIII, adapted tobe removed from the mold and replaced as desired. They may be held inplace in the mold by any suitable securing means well-known tomechanics, such as dowels, screws, or the like, or by suitable cement,even.

In cases where a great many signs are to be made with identical designfeatures having the luminous devices II! (or 20) ,such, for example, asthat shown in Fig. I,the raised mold-symbols 28 shown in Fig. VI may be(cast) integral with the bottom plate of the mold, as illustrated inFig. IX,-where the various parts and features are marked with the samereference characters as in Figs. I, II, III and VI, as a means ofdispensing with repetitive description. It will be observed, however,that the luminous unit I0 here shown rests in a circular socket hole 29bored through the raised integral symbol ridge 28 of the mold bottom 24,which appears in cross-section. It will be observed that owing to therounded form of the glass member I5 and the reduction of its front faceI6 (inside the shoulder ring I1) which is intended to be exposed andvisible, the rest of the member I overhangs the edges of the socket 29,so as to be retentiv'ely embedded in the concrete poured around it.

It will be seen that in the process of sign manufacture as described thewhole sign slab l2 complete with all its intaglio or countersunk designis molded at one operation, and the luminous devices H) or 20 are at thesame time permanently incorporated and secured in it. The operation issimple and allows of the manufacture of many identical or differentsigns in a short time, since as soon as the concrete has set, it may beseparated from the mold and left to harden or cure on some suitable backsupport. Double-face signs of the same character can readily be made byusing a mold with a top plate carrying the desired obverse design, andemploying a suitable concrete-molding machine or press.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A sign of concrete having a recessed design therein, and aconformative glassy light-reflecting member retentively embedded in theconcrete recession, with its face partly covered thereby and partlyexposed therethrough to provide surrounding shelter for said member.

2. A sign oi concrete having an indented design therein, andcon'formative light-reflecting means, laterally rounded or reduced,,embedded and held fast in the concrete indentations, and forming aluminous design exposed to view below 5 the sign face.

3. A sign of concrete having inits face grooves forming a sign design,with light-reflecting means embedded in the concrete and exposed at thebottoms of said grooves, and sheltered by the latter.

4. A signof concrete having in its face grooves forming a sign design,with light-reflecting glassy rods forming the same design as saidgrooves embedded in the concrete and exposed at the bottoms of saidgrooves, and sheltered by the latter.

5. A sign comprising a concrete slab with metal reinforcement embeddedtherein, said slab having in its face grooves forming a sign design,with light-reflecting means embedded in the concrete and exposed at thebottoms of said grooves, and sheltered by the latter.

' EDWIN A. BELL.

